APEP Clinical Workshop 2026: What Happens on the Day and How to Prepare

The Final Step: Your Clinical Workshop

You have passed the Written Assessment. You have passed the Capability Assessment. Now there is one last stage between you and your Australian physiotherapy registration: the Clinical Workshop.

This is the only component of the APEP pathway that requires you to travel to Melbourne, Australia. Everything else in the pathway can be done remotely, but the APC designed this final stage as an in-person assessment because hands-on clinical skills cannot be adequately evaluated through a screen.

What Is the Clinical Workshop?

The Clinical Workshop is a full-day group-based training and assessment conducted at the Australian Physiotherapy Council's office in Melbourne. It is divided into a morning and afternoon session, focusing on hands-on clinical skills and simulated cases.

Unlike a traditional exam where you sit alone under pressure, the Clinical Workshop involves working in a small group alongside fellow candidates and an experienced Australian physiotherapist who facilitates the sessions.

The APC describes it as both a training and assessment opportunity: you practise skills such as diagnostics and patient communication in real-world scenarios under expert supervision, while being assessed on your competency.

Key Details at a Glance

Aspect	Details
Format	Full-day group-based training and assessment
Sessions	Morning + Afternoon
Location	Level 4, 304 Burwood Road, Hawthorn VIC (Melbourne)
Facilitator	Experienced Australian physiotherapist
Group size	Small group with fellow candidates
Fee	$1,464 AUD (from 5 January 2026)
Prerequisites	Pass Eligibility, Cultural Safety, Written Assessment, and Capability Assessment
Insurance required	Professional Indemnity Insurance ($5M minimum)

The Four Assessed Domains

The Clinical Workshop evaluates your competency across four key domains, all derived from the Physiotherapy Practice Thresholds in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand:

1. Communication

Your ability to:

• Communicate clearly and respectfully with patients
• Explain assessment findings in plain language
• Provide effective instructions for exercises and self-management
• Listen actively and respond to patient concerns
• Adapt your communication style to different patient needs

Assessors are looking for clear, empathetic, and professional communication that builds trust and supports the therapeutic relationship.

2. Safety and Handling

Your ability to:

• Handle patients safely during assessment and treatment
• Position patients appropriately for different techniques
• Identify and manage risks during hands-on treatment
• Demonstrate awareness of contraindications and precautions
• Maintain patient dignity and comfort throughout

This is critical. Any safety concern during your assessment or treatment techniques will be flagged. Always verbalise your safety considerations.

3. Clinical Skills

Your ability to:

• Perform physical assessment techniques competently
• Apply treatment techniques with appropriate skill level
• Demonstrate correct manual therapy handling where applicable
• Conduct functional assessments accurately
• Select and apply appropriate outcome measures

This domain tests the practical skills that cannot be assessed remotely. You must demonstrate that you can physically perform the clinical techniques you discussed verbally in the Capability Assessment.

4. Professionalism

Your ability to:

• Maintain professional boundaries
• Demonstrate cultural awareness and sensitivity
• Show respect for patient autonomy and consent
• Exhibit appropriate clinical behaviour
• Manage your conduct within professional and ethical frameworks

Professionalism is assessed throughout the entire day, not just during specific scenarios. How you interact with peers, the facilitator, and simulated cases all contribute to this domain.

What to Expect on the Day

Before You Arrive

• Booking: You book the Clinical Workshop through your Candidate Portal after passing the Capability Assessment
• Insurance: Obtain a Certificate of Currency for Professional Indemnity Insurance with minimum $5 million AUD coverage
• Travel: Arrange travel to Melbourne and accommodation if needed

Insurance tip: Free associate membership with the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) includes complimentary professional indemnity insurance that meets the $5 million requirement. Apply for APA associate membership before your workshop date.

Morning Session

The morning session focuses on hands-on clinical skills. You will work through clinical scenarios in your small group, practising assessment and treatment techniques. The experienced Australian physiotherapist facilitator guides the session, providing real-time feedback.

This is your opportunity to demonstrate that you can translate your clinical knowledge into practical application. The scenarios are designed to mirror real clinical practice in the Australian healthcare setting.

Afternoon Session

The afternoon session continues with simulated cases and further practical assessment. By this stage, you should be settling into the format and demonstrating confidence in your clinical approach.

Throughout both sessions, assessors evaluate your performance across all four domains: Communication, Safety and Handling, Clinical Skills, and Professionalism.

How to Pass

You must demonstrate each of the four domains at entry level to pass. This means performing at the standard expected of a newly registered physiotherapist in Australia, not an expert or specialist.

Entry level means you can:

• Safely assess and treat common conditions
• Communicate effectively with patients and colleagues
• Apply evidence-based clinical reasoning
• Practise within your scope and recognise limitations

Preparation Strategies

1. Revise Your Hands-on Skills

The Clinical Workshop is the only assessment that tests what you can physically do. Focus on:

• Musculoskeletal assessment techniques: Joint range of motion, special tests, palpation, manual muscle testing
• Neurological assessment: Reflexes, sensation testing, cranial nerve assessment, balance and coordination tests
• Cardiorespiratory assessment: Auscultation, chest percussion, breathing pattern assessment, exercise tolerance testing
• Manual therapy: Safe and effective handling for mobilisation techniques
• Exercise prescription: Demonstrating and teaching exercises to patients

2. Practise with a Study Partner

Since the Clinical Workshop involves hands-on skills, you cannot prepare by studying alone. Find a study partner and practise:

• Taking a subjective history while simultaneously planning your assessment
• Performing physical assessments and explaining your findings out loud
• Demonstrating treatment techniques with correct patient positioning
• Giving clear exercise instructions

3. Focus on Safety and Communication

These two domains catch many candidates. During every practice session:

• Verbalise your safety checks: "Before I begin, I am going to check..." / "I would ensure the bed is at the correct height..." / "Are you comfortable in this position?"
• Explain what you are doing and why: "I am going to assess your shoulder range of motion to help identify which structures might be involved..."
• Check in with the patient regularly: "How is your pain level?" / "Is this pressure comfortable?"

4. Understand the Australian Healthcare Context

Your clinical approach should reflect Australian practice standards:

• Know when to refer: Red flags, medical emergencies, conditions requiring GP or specialist review
• Evidence-based practice: Base your treatment choices on current evidence, not tradition
• Patient-centred care: Involve the patient in decision-making, respect their goals and preferences
• Cultural safety: Demonstrate awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health contexts

5. Review the Practice Thresholds

All four assessed domains map directly to the Physiotherapy Practice Thresholds. Review the 7 competency roles, particularly:

• Role 1: Physiotherapy Practitioner (clinical skills)
• Role 2: Professional and Ethical Practitioner (professionalism)
• Role 3: Communicator (communication)
• Role 5: Collaborative Practitioner (teamwork in group setting)

Costs and Budget Planning

Clinical Workshop Fees (from 5 January 2026)

Item	Cost (AUD)
Clinical Workshop fee	$1,464
Clinical Workshop resit (if needed)	$1,464

Additional Costs to Budget For

Item	Estimated Cost (AUD)
Return flights to Melbourne	$200 - $1,500 (depending on origin)
Accommodation (1-2 nights)	$150 - $300
Professional indemnity insurance	Free (via APA associate membership)
Transport to Hawthorn venue	$20 - $50

Full APEP Pathway Cost Summary (from January 2026)

Stage	Fee (AUD)
Eligibility Assessment	$1,170
Cultural Safety Training	$235
Written Assessment	$2,017
Capability Assessment	$2,928
Clinical Workshop	$1,464
Total APEP	$7,814

How the Clinical Workshop Differs from the Old Standard Pathway

The APEP Clinical Workshop replaced the Standard Assessment Pathway Clinical Assessment when APEP launched on 1 October 2025. Key differences:

Aspect	Old Clinical Assessment	New Clinical Workshop
Format	Individual simulation stations	Group-based training and assessment
Duration	~75 min per simulation	Full day (morning + afternoon)
Structure	3 separate clinical stations (MSK, neuro, cardio)	Integrated hands-on and simulated cases
Assessors	2 assessors per candidate	Experienced Australian physio facilitator
Design	Exam-style under pressure	Training and assessment combined

The new format is designed to be more representative of real clinical practice, with the group-based approach allowing candidates to observe and learn from peers as well as demonstrate their own skills.

After You Pass

Once you pass the Clinical Workshop, the APC issues your Final Certificate. This certificate confirms that you have met the assessment requirements for physiotherapy registration in Australia.

With your Final Certificate, you can then apply to AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) for registration. The AHPRA registration process typically takes 2-4 weeks and costs approximately $895 AUD.

After receiving your AHPRA registration, you can legally practise as a physiotherapist in Australia.

Your APEP Journey: Where the Clinical Workshop Fits

Step	Stage	Format	Location
1	Eligibility Assessment	Online submission	Remote
2	Cultural Safety Training	Self-paced online	Remote
3	Written Assessment	150 MCQs, 4 hours	Remote or Melbourne/Sydney
4	Capability Assessment	1.5-hour oral exam via video	Remote
5	Clinical Workshop	Full-day practical	Melbourne (in-person only)
6	AHPRA Registration	Online application	Remote

Key Takeaways

• The Clinical Workshop is the final and only in-person stage of APEP

• It is a full-day group-based training and assessment in Melbourne

• You are assessed on 4 domains: Communication, Safety and Handling, Clinical Skills, and Professionalism

• You must demonstrate competency at entry level to pass

• Professional indemnity insurance ($5M minimum) is required - get free coverage via APA associate membership

• The fee is $1,464 AUD from January 2026

• After passing, the APC issues your Final Certificate for AHPRA registration

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Plan your Melbourne trip well in advance. Book accommodation close to Hawthorn, arrive the day before to rest, and bring your Certificate of Currency for professional indemnity insurance on the day.